Reference-point-based static-scale mapping application

Abstract

A computer-implemented mapping method comprises determining a fixed reference point, displaying a static-scale map on a display screen of a computing device such that the map always includes the fixed reference point, and displaying a graphical discontinuity indicator on the map to represent a discontinuity in the map, the graphical discontinuity indicator dividing the map into a first map area surrounding the fixed reference point and a second map area that is geographically spaced apart from the first map area.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented mapping method comprising:
 performing a search using a search query for points of interest; 
 determining locations of search results obtained in response to the search; 
 determining a plurality of fixed reference points corresponding to the locations of the search results; 
 determining a current zoom level; 
 creating a map area for each reference point of the fixed reference points; 
 combining map areas for reference points that can be displayed simultaneously at the current zoom level; 
 displaying each map area at the current zoom level on a display screen of a computing device; 
 displaying graphical discontinuity indicators between each of the map areas; 
 displaying a discontinuity distance in association with at least one of the graphical discontinuity indicators to indicate a distance between two map areas divided by the respective one of the graphical discontinuity indicators; and 
 notifying a user when a cursor is moved across one of the graphical discontinuity indicators, said notifying comprising one of emitting a sound and decelerating a movement of the cursor; 
 wherein each graphical discontinuity indicator represents a stack of map folds, the stack of map folds comprising a first edge of a map area, a second edge of an adjoining map area, and one or more lines between the first edge and the second edge; and 
 wherein a total number of the one or more lines is proportional to a geographical distance between adjoining map areas and each line of the one or more lines corresponds to the same geographical distance. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising dynamically varying each graphical discontinuity indicator as the geographical distance increases or decreases between adjoining map areas separated by the graphical discontinuity indicator. 
     
     
       3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a computing device cause the computing device to:
 perform a search using a search query for points of interest; 
 determine locations of search results obtained in response to the search; 
 determine a plurality of-fixed reference points corresponding to the locations of the search results; 
 determine a current zoom level; 
 create a map area for each reference point of the fixed reference points; 
 combine map areas for reference points that can be displayed simultaneously at the current zoom level; 
 display each map area at the current zoom level on a display screen of a computing device; 
 display graphical discontinuity indicators between each of the map areas; 
 display a discontinuity distance in association with at least one of the graphical discontinuity indicators to indicate a distance between two map areas divided by the respective one of the graphical discontinuity indicator; and 
 notify a user when a cursor is moved across one of the graphical discontinuity indicators, said notifying comprising one of emitting a sound and decelerating a movement of the cursor; 
 wherein each graphical discontinuity indicator represents a stack of map folds, the stack of map folds comprising a first edge of a map area, a second edge of an adjoining map area, and one or more lines between the first edge and the second edge; and 
 wherein a total number of the one or more lines is proportional to a geographical distance between adjoining map areas and each line of the one or more lines corresponds to the same geographical distance. 
 
     
     
       4. The computer-readable medium as claimed in  claim 3  comprising dynamically varying each graphical discontinuity indicator as the geographical distance increases or decreases between adjoining map areas separated by the graphical discontinuity indicator. 
     
     
       5. A computing device comprising:
 a processor operatively coupled to a memory to determine a plurality of fixed reference points by performing a search using a search query for points of interest, 
 determining locations of search results obtained in response to the search, 
 determining a current zoom level, creating a map area for each reference point of the fixed reference points, and combining map areas for reference points that can be displayed simultaneously at the current zoom level; and 
 a display coupled to the processor and memory for displaying: 
 
       each map area at the current zoom level; and for displaying
 a plurality of graphical discontinuity indicators between each of the map areas; 
 a discontinuity distance in association with at least one of the graphical discontinuity indicators to indicate a distance between two map areas divided by the respective one of the graphical discontinuity indicator; and 
 wherein the processor further notifies a user when a cursor is moved across one of the graphical discontinuity indicators, said notifying comprising one of emitting a sound and decelerating a movement of the cursor; 
 wherein each graphical discontinuity indicator represents a stack of map folds, the stack of map folds comprising a first edge of a map area, a second edge of an adjoining map area, and one or more lines between the first edge and the second edge; and 
 wherein a total number of the one or more lines is proportional to a geographical distance between adjoining map areas and each line of the one or more lines corresponds to the same geographical distance. 
 
     
     
       6. The computing device as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the processor causes the display to dynamically vary each graphical discontinuity indicator in response to changes in the geographical distance between adjoining map areas separated by the graphical discontinuity indicator.